Hey fellas, Getting ready to child proof the house for my 14 month old twin boys. I was out at lowes looking at some stuff. they sell table edge 4 corners and six feet of edge(like whats 6 ft gonna cover?) the average coffee table is 12 ft around. 20 bucks for
. Wondering what else i can use instead. plus they will rip the
off in miniutes. Any other things I should know of would be appreciated.
Thanks to all
Lou
Replies
The only thing we ever did as far as childproofing was clips on the lower cabinets and a gate at the stairs. Anything else is overkill IMHO. They are gonna get banged up on something anyway, they heal fast. Keep em away from the chemicals and the big falls and they will be just fine.
Edited 9/4/2007 8:55 am ET by TomW
We put door and drawer catches on most of the cabinets. Left one or two lower cabinet doors free swinging, the ones with tupperware and cheap pots, so the kiddo could have some fun. Definately put catches on the bathroom and kitchen sink cabinet doors, and the knife drawer.
We tried the plastic guard on the front edge of the stove so the kiddo couldn't reach the hot pots, it was almost more aggravating to the adults.
Definately put the plastic plugs in the electrical outlets.
And we put doorknob spinners on the front & back doors so they couldn't sneak out.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Edited 9/4/2007 9:04 am ET by FastEddie
Forgot about the outlet plgs, we did those too.
I recently saw an episode of Ask this old House where they did child proofing. The guy that did the segment was from a company he founded called Safe Beginnings. Having an 11 month old myself that seems to find every outlet and door his hands can touch I checked out the sight and ordered a lot of stuff.
The sight is called http://www.safebeginnings.com The prices and selection was pretty good.
Just so that no one gets any ideas, I am not a sponsor or affiliated in anyway with the company or its sight. I'm just a new parent that found something useful to pass on.
Thanks
Barney
You're not kidding anyone Bar-ney. We may not watch a lot of children's television but we know who you are.
We're just one big happy family.
It ain't easy being purple.
We're just one big happy family.
It ain't easy being purple.
Ohmagod. There's more than one of you? ;-)
>>It ain't easy being purple.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco
May your whole life become a response to the truth that you've always been loved, you are loved and you always will be loved" Rob Bell, Nooma, "Bullhorn"
"We Live" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kuBgh0VCqI&mode=related&search
And Annie Ross's "Twisted" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqivrCIRGo&mode=related&search=
The corners may make sense (if they can be effectively attached), the edging not. Kids are going to bump their heads. That's how they learn.
Mainly you want to lock up stuff that's dangerous, block stairways, and put great-grandma's fine crystal out of reach.
put great-grandma's fine crystal out of reach
That's almost the # 1 thing to do. You would be sruprised how high they can reach, and the prettiest most fragile things are what they go for first."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
If you have any tall bookcases or furniture you can screw them to the wall. Kids can try to climb stuff and pull it over on top of themselves.
Just make sure to use approved piffin screws.
(-:
I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but it is much easier to house proof your child. If you don't, they won't be safe when you take them to other places [most people won't have child proof houses].
Be very clear and unwavering what their limits are.
For my first 4 children, we child proofed everything: Hallway and stair gates [oldest daughter (2 y.o. at the time) climbed two gates high; and we thought we had her stumped], gate on the elevated deck, cabnet locks, .... by number 5 we trained her to stay behind a virtual gate [starting with tape on the floor; then evern removing the tape]; she was trained to stay out of cabinets, closet, bathroom ... You will need to keep some things around that are not off-limits (e.g. in a play-pen nearby) so that they can be around and busy, but not into off-limits things.
I'm by no means an authority.
Hope this helps,
Roger <><
It varies a lot kid to kid. Our #1 son we could literally take into a shop of glass figurines and not worry. He knew to look but not touch. #2 son was good but not quite that good.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Then there is me...When I was a kid I managed to hit the corner of every marble tabletop or the edge of every steel balllustrade any of our relatives had - with my head.But I never broke any fine figurines!Good training for later in life, I think. My head was so hard by then nobody could knock me out from the front.Gotta go now so I can clean up this jelly-like stuff leaking out my ear. you'd think after fifty years those brains would have congealed inside there....;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
#1 son, I think it was, went through a bad period for a week or two, when he was first learning out how to stand up without pulling himself up on something. He liked to play around/under the coffee table, but bonked himself good several times a day when he tried to stand up while under it.Of course this reminds me of when I was about 12 and went caving with a buddy. There was a cave out in a cow pasture near home, went back maybe 50 feet. Just 10 feet in was a low spot in the ceiling (this was all crawl height, but the low spot was lower still).Having been there before I led the way. We got to the low spot I said "Watch out for that low spot". My buddy (who was never good at listening to advice) said "What low spot?" just before I heard a dull thud. Knocked himself silly. I waited for a second for him to recover, which he did, and then rose back up into a crawl again and again went down. The third time he did this I told him don't move, placed my hand on his head to keep it down, and then dragged him forward several feet.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
"...it is much easier to house proof your child..."
I'd agree with that. Kids are all about tickling the limits of whatever world they find themselves in, and I see it as somewhat dishonest to pad their cells until they're what, 21? Certainly you want to put the guns & liquor where they have to ask for them, but any envorinment rendered completely undeadly is a fantasy and a lie, and that's no good for anyone in the longer run.
There are three instances that I recall very clearly from my years before 5.
I was standing on a stool beside Dad, watching him probe a broken television. I stuck my little finger near the humming transformer and asked "what's that"? Dad just said "touch it" and so I did. This taught me that there are unseen forces in the world that cann knock you on your ####. I replay the image whenever I approach a panelbox or camp in mountain lion country.
Uncle Bruce sat at the kitchen table eating jalapenos like candy. He handed me one and I chomped into it with gleeful anticipation. This taught me that it's somewhat important to not assume that what's good for one is necessarily the same for someone else. The next day it taught me to walk like John Wayne, holding my pants away from my thighs.
Uncle Bruce again -- told me that it's necessary to pull both triggers on a 12-guage at exactly the same time to keep your second shot from flying wide. From this I learned (in addition to never trusting that bastard again) that there may be secondary consequences (like flying backward off the stump) perhaps as worthy of consideration as the one originally thought prime. I wish that Uncle Bruce had been alive to remind me of that before I got married.
}}}}
LOL, More "Uncle Bruce" stories...
More..
More....
Create a separate thread??
BTW, my uncle Bill told me the same thing whe I was shooting lofted beer cans with his old 10 ga when I was 15. Knew he was joking about firing both, but wanted to show him what a big strong kid I was... fired both off from the hip so as not to hurt shoulder.... barrel catch lever tore a nice gash and chunk outa the skin between thumb and forefinger.
I put all the safety latches on my cabs.
Out let covers,gates by the stairs,you name it.
Don't leave buckets of water or soap for washing unattened,friend lost his son from drowning.
All mykids are grown(over 21) now I have to put locks on my fridge, they are in danger of over eating all my food.
old 10 ga
we were at a local 'antique' shop last week (great place, it's where I got my anvil) - stuff everywhere, an no organization - owner had scored some fresh merch and my buddy was looking at knives, pulling them out of a small showcase that was precariously balanced on layers on 'stuff' -
there's jewelry in there, some coin, knives, small boxes and a canvas holster - I grap the holster and open it up to find a 10 ga pistol - bout a 8" barrel and wooden grip - vintage -
I'd be scared to fire it - probably break my wrist -
check out my thread to you that got moved to the tavern, if you haven't seen it -
"there's enough for everyone"
House proofing your child is a great concept. A good place to start with learning to respect limits. The book I usually give new parents on this subject is called "Kids are worth it, Giving children the gift of self discipline" by Barbara Colorasso. Her thesei is that you can help children learn to listen to their inner voice of good judgement by treating them and yourself in a dignified and respectful manner and helping them to see the consequences of their actions in advance. I like the first edition better than the subsequent re-prints so it's a good one to order used on-line. Still need to do some basic childproofing like latches on the cleaning supplies and watch for trailing extension cords. I pulled a fresh pot of coffee over on my head when I was a kid and my daughter stuck a key in an electrical outlet. Some accidents don't make for teachable moments.Falling down stairs and off swings and out of tree forts is pretty standard growing pains even if it entails a trip to the hospital. A few broken bones are just a sign of a childhood well lived. ------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
So you are the one who invented the invisible gate. I reckon you figured you could make more money selling it to people with dogs.
The best childproofing comes in a little package labeled "Trojan"
Didn't know you could get them at Lowes.
;)
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I was going to say vasectomy or tied tubes. Daughter tried that coffee table bumper thing someone mentioned, it did not stay on. I would make sure the oven/range had the tip-proof bracket. Knob spinners on any doors that could lead to danger, (to include parents bedroom, prevent early sex-ed, could warp them for life).
Trojen!! Good one piff
-Lou
Maybe somebody could come up with a child-proof paint tooor a child-proof scent. Let's call it eau de poo-poo and package it in a vial that is modeled after a little diaper bucket
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Great minds..."Trojans" was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read the title!
Yeah.Time now to Swash, Buckle, and run off to polish the prow
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Here's my perspective from the Emergency Department. All the other replies are good regarding the house, but watch out for visitors purses especially gramma. She'll have Rx bottles in there, or even worse, the daily dispenser that is not child resistant.
If you have a kid under 6, get rid of the coffee table for the duration. It's always in front of the couch which is the center of all activity. Bounce, bounce, bounce....fall, crash into the table.
Be careful picking up the toddlers by their outstretched arms. "Nursemaid's elbow" is when the proximal portion of their radius bone ( the one in the forearm on the thumb side ) gets pulled out from under the annular ligament near the elbow. Makes you feel terrible when the kid hollers and won't use his arm. They usually point at the wrist, but believe me it's the elbow. If you end up in the ED, have them show you how to put it back. Piece of cake (they shouldn't even charge for doing this). I don't even X-ray them.
Don't let your child be on the floor with a dog that's eating. Never have a Chow dog around your child until they are old enough to carry a gun which in my neighborhood is 8 years old.
Get one of those beepers for your vehicle when it's backing up. Or one of those toddler detectors.
The way it was explained to me once was that your child's freedom should be like an inverted pyramid. In the early years they should be restricted for their protection and their understanding of authority. When they are older you can let them have more freedom. They earn it by showing responsibility.
A lot of parents do the opposite way. The skies the limit when they are young but when they get older the parents start putting more restrictions on them because the stakes get higher. By that time it is to late. They don't need no stinking restrictions!
For what it is worth.... Child proofing is a waste of money, time, and the potential peace of mind you think you are getting. I did it 21 years ago... yes it has been out that long! One of the latches I put on the "lower" cabinet door caused me some problems on my cleaning duties.
Thats when I said B.S. and pulled every one of those stupid "child proof" devices of every door, drawer, outlet and other places we had "proofed". Guess what?.... My son is Junior in college with a 3.25 and a scheduled internship with the Atlanta Falcons next summer. My daughter is a Senior in H.S. with a 3.6 GPA and a 28 ATC score. They survived and by all accounts are normal. I decided to raise my children in a similar fashion that my parents did..... I spent time with them, I made it a point to know where the were and what they were doing at all times. Did they trip and stumble? Yes! Did they scrape their knees? Yes! But, I did not put the job of parenting off on something other than my own shoulders. I had fun raising my children, (not quite finished) and I saved a bunch of money. Do not take offense..... this is MHO!
I recall a picture in National Geographic or some such of a 3-4 year old child playing with a sharp hunting knife, somewhere like Borneo. The writer said the kids did such things all the time and never seemed to get hurt.My attitude is that kids can't learn responsibility unless you give them a little bit more than you know they can handle. IOW, you let them fall, but you try to assure it's not too far, or that you'll be around to catch them.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Hey Win, I'll do the bare minimum. I agree with you.Chemical stuff i'll do, I'll round the coffee table edge off. I do need a gate though. I Have a 42 flat lcd tv sitting on a table. I should fasten that down? Lock the sink cab.
THANKS EVERYONE, Lou
>>Child proofing ideas??????????
I guess it's too late for celibacy? <G>
May your whole life become a response to the truth that you've always been loved, you are loved and you always will be loved" Rob Bell, Nooma, "Bullhorn"
"We Live" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kuBgh0VCqI&mode=related&search
And Annie Ross's "Twisted" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqivrCIRGo&mode=related&search=
I have four kids and one on the way.
I'd have to say the most effective thing i've found is duct tape.
Apply liberally to each kid and your worries will be over.
The best thing we did is put a latch on the top door on the inside. I don't know what you'd call it. Screw it to the frame with one screw just tight enough so it turns horizonal and keeps the door from opening, up and down to open the door.
It keeps them locked in when your back is turned
It amazing how fast toddlers can move
Childproofing? Who needs childproofing? Just pad the walls...works for them when they are little, works for you when they become teenagers. lol
Electrical plugs, chemical cabinet locks, stair gates. Also, make sure your cpu is out of reach or back things up daily (hindsight, oh thou wicked hindsight...) If you have a serious electronic jones like my DH, make sure the stuff is in cabinets with doors or behind a fence (seriously, our amps will arc-weld if shorted, say by a spilled juice cup - not to mention replacment costs!) Dog door = toddler door. Keep lots of bandaids around for them and Irish existentialism around for you (12 year old is best) and good luck!!!!
jf 8fw (courtesy of the 16 month old trying to help me here....
"There are no childhood discipline problems that can't be solved with duct tape" - Duke
Mom * 3 (+DH)
If the coffee table has square edges, round them off. Falls are gonna happen. Not as bad when they fall on a rounded edge.
My brain + his brawn = a perfect team
I read some of the posts and had to laugh as I remebered all the things my son has done. We did the elctrical outlet plugs and the doorknob spinners. also did the gates at the stairs. things went well until he was a bit older (2 yrs ish). then he started climbing. hasn't stopped since. the boy climbs evrything. We've been to the ER more times with him than both me and my wife have combined. He's got some scars but nothing too bad. Worst was when he almost pulled the tv off the table onto himself. After that I screwed all the bookcases and tables to the wall. my deck rail is 42" high and he still got over it. Now he is seven and he was just up on the pump jacks with me working on my house this past weekend. likes to be on the roof too. I just spend a lot of time telling him how to be safe. he ultimately listens and gets it. I would say keep the electrical stuff safe, use gates and keep the chemicals out of reach and let them learn the rest on thier own. If they want to do something, they will find a way.
best of luck,
Jason,
PS - bring entertainment for the little ones when you go to the ER. IT can be a long night - always seems to be at night too. maybe they are clumsy cause they are tired.
who knows
"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."
Bozini Latini
Much depends on the personalities involved. With our first, by the time he was 9 months he understood staying out of the potted plants vs. digging in the dirt outside; how to handle fragile items vs. beating his toys; etc. With our second...it has been more challenging.
As an older parent (36 at time of first, now 49), I'm mostly with the camp that says actively protect against the worst problems (truly life-threatening ones) and teach the kids personal safety on the rest. For example: when it's wrestle-time (after dinner in our house), announce the event and make prepping the room (moving the coffee table, lamps, whatever) part of the activity. Then put everything back when it's over. Talk about why you're moving stuff out of the way while you're doing it. Make a big deal of inspecting the room before and after--you want them to learn the thought process you use in evaluating the safety of an environment.
And, of course, make sure that your children see you and your spouse exhibiting safety-conscious behaviors--seat belts, bike helmets, ear-, eye-, and breathing protection, no driving after drinking, limited amounts of junk food, etc.--simple, reasonably inexpensive, yet quite effective.
Enjoy!
Kathleen
I'm sure you're in an existing house, Lou, but the neatest thing I've seen for new construction is the kiddie gate as a pocket door. Not sure who's marketing it, but it's a great idea for the top and bottom of a stairway. Think about it - unless it's for the dog, you only use the kiddie gate for a couple of years. Pocket door style makes a lot of sense to me.
Greg
After three kids I offer this up as advice.
1. Cabinate door clips
2. Baby gates at stairs and other areas thaqt you want to keep them out of.
3. Wire your book shelves to the walls as they make great ladders.
4. Get of your coffee tables.
5. Put away any niknaks that either break, cut, dent, or would otherwise be considered valuable.
6. Understand that children are born with a natural magnet in their head that will pull it to any hard edge under 3'high. Just get rid of it if you can.
Good Luck!
You'll need it.
Dave
"Cabinate"is that a verb?;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Nope, french Canadian! LOL
Dave
Just kill the kids. Lots easier of house-proof a child than the other way 'round. :-)